Divinity Atlas

Sacred Correspondences
Spread Map

Presbyterianism Spread Map

Where and when Presbyterianism spread, arrived, was established, declined or was revived, in the places and years the historical record gives.

Map

Presbyterianism Spread Map Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guam Guatemala Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Laos Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe The Scottish Reformation Establishes Presbyterianism In Scotland, Scotland, 1560 to 1690, EstablishedThe Scottish Parliament Passes the Golden Act, Establishing Presbyterian Church Government, Scotland, 1592, EstablishedScottish Covenanters Sign the National Covenant at Greyfriars Kirk, United Kingdom, 1638, EstablishedThe Church of Scotland Adopts the Westminster Confession of Faith, Scotland, 1647, EstablishedFrancis Makemie Organizes The First American Presbytery, United States, 1706 to 1716, ArrivedThe Synod of Philadelphia Adopts the Westminster Confession in the Adopting Act, United States, 1729, EstablishedThe Old Side and New Side Synods Reunite as the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, United States, 1758, EstablishedThe First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church Convenes in Philadelphia, United States, 1789, EstablishedThe 1837 Schism Divides Old School and New School Presbyterians, United States, 1837, EstablishedAshbel Green Simonton Brings Presbyterianism to Brazil, Brazil, 1859 to 1863, ArrivedThe Presbyterian Church of Brazil Gains Autonomy and Grows Nationally, Brazil, 1888 to 2021, EstablishedThe Presbyterian Church of Korea Organizes as an Independent Body, Korea, 1907 to 1947, EstablishedPresbyterianism Grows Into South Korea's Largest Protestant Tradition, South Korea, 1945 to 1991, DominantThe Presbyterian Church In America Reunites After 122 Years, United States, 1983 to 1988, EstablishedThe Church of Scotland Approves a Scheme for Ministers to Conduct Same-Sex Marriages, United Kingdom, 2022, EstablishedMarta Pumroy-Cordero and Kristopher Schondelmeyer Are Elected Co-Moderators of the 227th General Assembly, United States, 2026, EstablishedThe Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Signs a Mission Partnership With the Tuvalu Christian Church, Taiwan, 2026, Established

Point at, tap, or move keyboard focus to a marker for its event, place, year and status.

Marker size and shape show how established the tradition was there: a small filled dot for an arrival, a larger one for an established or dominant presence, and a hollow, distinct marker where it was suppressed or nearly disappeared, never simply absent.

Spoken Chronology

The Scottish Reformation Establishes Presbyterianism In Scotland. Scotland, 1560 to 1690, Established. Source, Church Of Scotland (Wikipedia).

The Scottish Parliament Passes the Golden Act, Establishing Presbyterian Church Government. Scotland, 1592, Established. Source, Act for Abolishing of the Acts Contrary the True Religion, 1592 c. 8, the Golden Act (UK Government Legislation Archive).

Scottish Covenanters Sign the National Covenant at Greyfriars Kirk. United Kingdom, 1638, Established. Source, The National Covenant (Greyfriars Kirk).

The Church of Scotland Adopts the Westminster Confession of Faith. Scotland, 1647, Established. Source, The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Francis Makemie Organizes The First American Presbytery. United States, 1706 to 1716, Arrived. Source, Presbytery Of Philadelphia (Wikipedia).

The Synod of Philadelphia Adopts the Westminster Confession in the Adopting Act. United States, 1729, Established. Source, The Adopting Act of 1729 (PCA Historical Center).

The Old Side and New Side Synods Reunite as the Synod of New York and Philadelphia. United States, 1758, Established. Source, May 25: Old Side/New Side Reunion, 1758 (This Day in Presbyterian History, PCA Historical Center).

The First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church Convenes in Philadelphia. United States, 1789, Established. Source, First General Assembly of the PCUSA (Association of Religion Data Archives).

The 1837 Schism Divides Old School and New School Presbyterians. United States, 1837, Established. Source, This Day in Presbyterian History: The Old School/New School Division (PCA Historical Center).

Ashbel Green Simonton Brings Presbyterianism to Brazil. Brazil, 1859 to 1863, Arrived. Source, Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Wikipedia).

The Presbyterian Church of Brazil Gains Autonomy and Grows Nationally. Brazil, 1888 to 2021, Established. Source, Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Wikipedia).

The Presbyterian Church of Korea Organizes as an Independent Body. Korea, 1907 to 1947, Established. Source, Presbyterian Church of Korea (Wikipedia).

Presbyterianism Grows Into South Korea's Largest Protestant Tradition. South Korea, 1945 to 1991, Dominant. Source, Christianity in South Korea (Wikipedia).

The Presbyterian Church In America Reunites After 122 Years. United States, 1983 to 1988, Established. Source, Stories From GA: 1983 Reunion (Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)).

The Church of Scotland Approves a Scheme for Ministers to Conduct Same-Sex Marriages. United Kingdom, 2022, Established. Source, General Assembly Approves Scheme to Conduct Same-Sex Marriages (Church of Scotland).

Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kristopher Schondelmeyer Are Elected Co-Moderators of the 227th General Assembly. United States, 2026, Established. Source, Pumroy-Cordero and Schondelmeyer Are Elected Moderators on First Ballot (Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)).

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Signs a Mission Partnership With the Tuvalu Christian Church. Taiwan, 2026, Established. Source, Stand United to Love Jesus and Team Taiwan (Taiwan Church News).

Full Chronology

Every recorded spread event for this tradition, in date order, complete: 17 events.

  1. The Scottish Reformation Establishes Presbyterianism In ScotlandScotland, 1560 to 1690, Established
    Source Church Of Scotland (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  2. The Scottish Parliament Passes the Golden Act, Establishing Presbyterian Church GovernmentScotland, 1592, Established
  3. Scottish Covenanters Sign the National Covenant at Greyfriars KirkUnited Kingdom, 1638, Established
  4. The Church of Scotland Adopts the Westminster Confession of FaithScotland, 1647, Established
    Source The Westminster Confession of FaithWestminster Assemblythe holders' own account
  5. Francis Makemie Organizes The First American PresbyteryUnited States, 1706 to 1716, Arrived
    Source Presbytery Of Philadelphia (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  6. The Synod of Philadelphia Adopts the Westminster Confession in the Adopting ActUnited States, 1729, Established
  7. The Old Side and New Side Synods Reunite as the Synod of New York and PhiladelphiaUnited States, 1758, Established
  8. The First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church Convenes in PhiladelphiaUnited States, 1789, Established
  9. The 1837 Schism Divides Old School and New School PresbyteriansUnited States, 1837, Established
  10. Ashbel Green Simonton Brings Presbyterianism to BrazilBrazil, 1859 to 1863, Arrived
    Source Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  11. The Presbyterian Church of Brazil Gains Autonomy and Grows NationallyBrazil, 1888 to 2021, Established
    Source Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  12. The Presbyterian Church of Korea Organizes as an Independent BodyKorea, 1907 to 1947, Established
    Source Presbyterian Church of Korea (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  13. Presbyterianism Grows Into South Korea's Largest Protestant TraditionSouth Korea, 1945 to 1991, Dominant
    Source Christianity in South Korea (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  14. The Presbyterian Church In America Reunites After 122 YearsUnited States, 1983 to 1988, Established
  15. The Church of Scotland Approves a Scheme for Ministers to Conduct Same-Sex MarriagesUnited Kingdom, 2022, Established
  16. Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kristopher Schondelmeyer Are Elected Co-Moderators of the 227th General AssemblyUnited States, 2026, Established
  17. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Signs a Mission Partnership With the Tuvalu Christian ChurchTaiwan, 2026, Established